On Strike for Christmas Page #5

-Hey, you guys.

-Hi.

-l'm just gonna grab my stuff.

-Okay.

This is a good idea.

l pitched it to my boss

as a great human-interest story.

lt'll be good for the women in town

to see what we're doing.

And you can mention my support

for the strike in your article.

Thank you. l'm gonna get quotes

from Debbie and Laura too.

This strike's about to catch fire.

Should be heading out shortly.

So football's done...

...Ryan's already obsessing

about basketball season.

Yeah, Jeremy said he and Ryan

were going to light it up.

So how do you like the cookies?

These are actually delicious.

Yeah, you might not think so

after you hear this.

l've been trying to get you all night.

l overheard Keith and Ryan talking

before we left.

Jeremy found your secret recipe.

That's all right.

l wasn't really hiding it from them.

No, no, he found it

and they gave it to Hansen's Bakery.

-That's who made the cookies.

-Hey, Mom.

-Yeah?

-We've got to get going.

Last day of school tomorrow.

l've got a Spanish final.

-Okay, Joy, we'll talk.

-Good luck with that.

-Good night, guys.

-Good night.

So did you like the cookies, hon?

Actually, l did. They're amazing.

You guys did a fantastic job.

-l knew you could do it.

-Well.

Yeah. So you found my recipe?

l remembered where you kept it.

And the recipe was followed exactly.

You see what we can do

when we put our minds together?

We're pitching in and trying to meet

your strike demands.

l see that.

Hey! Coats in the coat closet,

or in your room.

l'm just gonna put it

right back on tomorrow.

Jeremy....

Remember....

-l'll be up in a bit.

-Okay, hon.

Hello, Rosemary? Hi, it's Joy.

l'm sorry to call you so late.

l was just wondering...

...if there was time to add something

to that article for tomorrow.

Good.

Have you guys seen the newspaper

today? lt's not outside.

Jeremy must've grabbed it.

Hey, so, hon...

...since we made a good-faith gesture

with the cookies...

...l was thinking

that maybe we could...

...you know,

negotiate a truce to this strike?

Yeah, Mom, we're really sorry

and this cereal sucks.

-We worked hard on those cookies.

-You must've.

They certainly were delicious.

Have you guys seen this?

How could we? You took it.

Anything interesting

in the news today?

l haven't finished it yet,

but it's all about us.

Everything in that article

is the truth...

...including your little cookie scam.

How'd you find out?

l know all, and see all.

You're one scary dude, Mom.

So did you even make any cookies?

-Yeah. You kidding?

-Yeah.

They just tasted

more like biological weapons.

Will you call off the strike now,

please?

Remember my strike demands?

Yeah, they're in the article,

in bold print.

Yeah, well, taking a family recipe...

...and giving it to a bakery

to make the cookies for you...

...isn't exactly in the spirit

of meeting those demands.

You know, l was so proud

when l thought...

...you had actually made

those cookies.

Now, l know you were just trying

to dupe me into ending the strike.

-Have you actually read this article?

-Of course l have.

''My husband and sons need

to learn that Christmas...

...doesn't just magically appear...

...and their selfish ways

need to change.''

-You said that?

-That's a little out of context.

That article makes

us look bad, Mom.

And you told them about the cookies?

She makes us look like idiots.

And that's my fault how exactly?

ln case you forgot,

you betrayed me.

And now the whole town knows.

And l see you gave them

a great picture to go with the article.

You're very handsome

in that picture.

Honey, the way she wrote this article,

we're marked men now.

And you should be

after what you did.

Hey, you ready to head to work?

Or are you busy displaying

the arrogance and laziness...

...of a man who doesn't appreciate

his wife?

You're quite the role model,

Stephen.

-Those weren't my exact words, Keith.

-l've had calls from other professors.

l think you're in for quite a bit

of razzing today.

Why are you spared?

lsn't your wife on strike too?

Yes, and l'm not happy about it.

But the article isn't about me.

You know, this isn't what l wanted.

My strike demands are right here.

They're simple.

Well, it may not be what you wanted,

but it's what you got.

So l'm guessing

you're not calling off the strike.

That's the loser from the article.

What a jerk.

Yeah.

-Are you going now?

-Yeah.

Okay, l'll bring the book.

-Yeah, nice article.

-How can he show his face?

-Hey.

-Hey.

Rosemary's article was great.

l loved her clever use

of ''Cookiegate.''

So underhanded by the guys,

and a prize recipe too.

-What are you doing here early?

-l wanted to get some stuff...

...before my day got crazy.

What's going on?

-l don't know. But let's go see.

-l'll grab the door.

Mom, what is going on?

Seems your strike demands...

...have touched a chord in the women

in this town.

The Christmas strike has generated

quite a bit of interest.

l'm sure your article

had something to do with that.

l realized after l read the article...

...that the only way to truly make

a difference is with numbers.

l need to teach my husband

a lesson before it's too late...

...and before he infects the kids

with that lazy-ass attitude of his.

And in order to do that,

we need to unite.

She posted a link

to Rosemary's article online.

l did too and we created a page for it.

This strike is going viral.

You mean you are now organizing

the Christmas strike, Laura?

There's a little activist

in me after all.

Look at these comments

of support from women all over town.

''l'm with you 1 00 percent.

lt's about time we took a stand.

Way to go, girls.''

lt looks the whole community

is behind your cause now, Joy.

Right, girls?

We're tired of being undervalued

and underappreciated. Right?

We're boycotting until our families

cooperate and pitch in.

Right.

So do you have any comment, Joy?

Yes. Yes, l do. lt really means a lot

that you all are here.

l realize that this strike

isn't just about me.

lt's about all of us.

And now that we are united...

...the days of women

making the holidays happen alone...

...will soon be over

and this strike will succeed.

So in the words of Gloria Steinem

or somebody:

''Solidarity now

and solidarity forever.''

-Yeah. Strike.

-Strike. Strike. Strike.

We're so screwed, Dad.

This is gonna be

the worst Christmas ever.

You hear about the rally yesterday?

Mom's got the whole town

behind her now.

-That's a lot of estrogen.

-Jeremy, l get it.

l also get that my holiday party...

...happens to be taking place

in this house...

...in two days

and l have nothing prepared for it.

Not to mention that we have

also done absolutely nothing...

...for Christmas. So yes,

right now, we're screwed.

-You seem stressed.

-You think?

Don't you have school?

We're out for winter break,

remember?

Well, good, because we need

to start getting ready for Christmas.

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